Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Pearne & Gordon LLP
  • Patent number: 8284973
    Abstract: The hearing device comprises at least one microphone (2) arranged within the housing (3) of the hearing device, with its sound inlet aperture (2?) being connected via a canal (7) to the outside of the housing (3) and a sound permeable cover (10) serving as microphone protection that is arranged in the region of the outlet opening of said canal (7). The canal (7) of the hearing device is provided as a blind hole and the microphone (2) is arranged at the side of said canal (7) and at least one opening or channel (9) is provided connecting said canal (7) with said sound inlet aperture (2?) of said microphone (2). By providing the canal (7) as a blind hole, all dirt eventually intruding the canal (7) will be collected at the bottom (7?) of canal (7) and will therefore not reach directly the microphone (2) or the sound inlet openings of the microphone (2) respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Bruno Gabathuler, Andre Lucien Ochsenbein
  • Patent number: 8282713
    Abstract: A filter media including a scrim, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) media substrate upon the scrim, and a layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane adhered to the PTFE media substrate on the scrim. The filter media is pleatable and has air permeability of approximately 3-10 cubic feet/min at a 0.5 inch H2O pressure drop and an original filtration efficiency greater than 99.0% when tested in an unused, unpleated condition with a 0.3 micron challenge aerosol at a flow rate of 10.5 feet/min and when tested after a cleanable dust performance test according to ASTM D6830.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: BHA Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smithies, Karmin Lorraine Olson
  • Patent number: 8284495
    Abstract: A zoom lens system of the present invention has a plurality of lens units each composed of at least one lens element and, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises: a first lens unit having negative optical power and composed of two lens elements; a second lens unit having positive optical power; and a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein in zooming, the lens units are moved such that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit should decrease and that an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit should increase, so that magnification change is achieved, and wherein the condition is satisfied: 1.5<LT/(Ir×Z)<2.6 where, Z=fT/fW>4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiki Yoshitsugu, Takakazu Bito
  • Patent number: 8284255
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a feature quantity extraction part for extracting a feature quantity of a subject from video captured by plural cameras, an In/Out point extraction part for extracting In/Out points indicating points in which a subject appears and disappears in each video captured, an In/Out region formation part for forming In/Out regions based on the In/Out points extracted, a correlation value calculation part for calculating a correlation value by obtaining the total sum of similarities every feature quantity of the subject in each of the plural combinations of In/Out points included in the In/Out regions, a frequency histogram creation part for creating a frequency histogram based on the correlation value, and a link relation information generation part for extracting a peak of the frequency histogram and estimating the presence or absence of a link relation between the plural cameras and generating link relation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Sumio Yokomitsu
  • Patent number: 8281519
    Abstract: A sliding door or window (1) comprises: a fixed frame (2); a sash (3) which slides horizontally and which has a perimeter groove (C); a pair of carriages (4, 4a) on which the sash (3) slides and which rest on a track (5); a controlling member (6) mounted on the sash (3), connected to operating means (7) which, when actuated by the controlling member (6), lift the sash (3) from the carriages (4, 4a) so that it can be slid open, and then lower the sash (3) when the sash (3) is returned to the closed position; a first slider (8) slidably fitted in the groove (C) made in an upper horizontal member (9) of the sash (3) and connected to the operating means (7); a first contact element (10) located in the proximity of the first slider (8) and rotatable between a lowered, non-operating position and a raised operating position; drive means (11) acting between the first slider (8) and the first contact element (10) and designed to allow a first position of lifting and stable positioning of the first contact element (10)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: GSG International S.p.A.
    Inventor: Marco Lambertini
  • Patent number: 8284276
    Abstract: A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit of positive power, a second lens unit of negative power, a third lens unit of positive power, and a fourth lens unit of positive power, wherein the first lens unit is composed of three or fewer lens elements, wherein the second lens unit is composed of three lens elements, wherein in zooming, the first to the fourth lens units are moved individually along an optical axis such that air spaces should vary, so that variable magnification is achieved, and wherein the conditions are satisfied: tan 2?W×m2W??1.78, tan 2?W×|fG2|/fG1?1.25, ?W?37 and fT/fW?10 (m2W is a lateral magnification of the second lens unit at a wide-angle limit, fG1 and fG2 are composite focal lengths of the first and the second lens units, ?W is a half view angle at a wide-angle limit, and fT and fW are focal lengths of the entire system respectively at a telephoto limit and at a wide-angle limit), an imaging device and a camera are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Tohchi, Yoshiaki Kurioka, Takakazu Bito
  • Patent number: 8281710
    Abstract: A tunnel pasteuriser comprises forward movement means (2) for moving products (3) to be pasteurised forward on a forward movement path along which there is a heating zone (4), a heat treatment zone (5) and a cooling zone (6). Each of said zones is divided into two or more sub-zones equipped with spraying means (10) for spraying a treatment liquid (11) onto the products (3) in transit in the sub-zone, and at least one tank (12) for collecting the liquid (11) that was sprayed on the products (3). In each heat treatment sub-zone (9) there are also means (20) for collecting the liquid (11) which wet the products (3) being treated. The collecting means (20) can be switched between a first operating condition in which they direct the liquid (11) collected towards the collection tank (12) of the relative heat treatment sub-zone (9), and a second operating condition in which they prevent the liquid (11) collected from reaching the tank (12) of the relative heat treatment sub-zone (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sidel Holdings & Technology SA
    Inventors: Graziano Panella, Andrea Solfa
  • Patent number: 8283254
    Abstract: There are provided an etching method and an etching apparatus suitable for etching an antireflection coating layer by using a resist film as a mask. The etching method includes forming the antireflection coating layer (Si-ARC layer) on an etching target layer; forming a patterned resist film (ArF resist film) on the antireflection coating layer; and forming a desired pattern on the antireflection coating layer by introducing an etching gas including a CF4 gas, a COS gas and an O2 gas into a processing chamber and etching the antireflection coating layer by the etching gas while using the resist film as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Takahito Mukawa
  • Patent number: 8281620
    Abstract: During fabrication of a vitreous silica crucible, contamination of the vitreous silica crucible due to wear particles and debris of components of an apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible is reduced by preventing damage and wear of the components of the apparatus due to silica fume. The apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible is divided into a lower section for accommodating a mold and a mold driving system and an upper section for accommodating an arc electrode driving system, wherein a sectioning member including one or more communication paths for allowing penetration of arc electrodes, thereby the air flow is controlled so as to reduce exchange between gas in the upper section and gas in the lower section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Japan Super Quartz Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sudo, Takeshi Fujita
  • Patent number: 8283253
    Abstract: A pattern forming method for forming a pattern serving as a mask, includes a process for forming a first pattern 105, a process for trimming a width of the first pattern 105, a process for forming a boundary layer 106 on a surface of the first pattern 105, a process for forming a second mask material layer 107 on a surface of the boundary layer 106, a process for removing a part of the second mask material layer 107 to expose top portions of the boundary layer 106, and a process for exposing the first pattern 105 and forming a second pattern having the second mask material layer 107 at a top portion thereof by etching the boundary layer 106.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hidetami Yaegashi, Satoru Shimura, Takashi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8285435
    Abstract: A lawn mower comprising: a frame (10); wheels and motors (20a;20b) for moving the frame (10) relative to a work surface (L); one or more blades (30) for cutting the grass on the work surface (L); a plurality of sensors (S1, S2) for generating detection signals (SR) representative of a distance of a mass (M) relative to the frame (10); a control unit (40) for determining, as a function of the detection signals (SR), whether the mass (M) is at a distance from the frame (10) within a predetermined value range, and to adjust the operating conditions of the lawn mower (1) as a function of the detection signals (SR); a selection circuit (50) interposed between the control unit (40) and sensors (S1, S2) for selectively enabling a connection between each of the sensors (S1, S2) and an input of the control unit (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Fabrizio Bernini
  • Patent number: 8283661
    Abstract: Provided is an organic EL display manufacturing method which has: a step wherein an organic EL panel having a substrate and organic EL elements arranged in matrix on the substrate is prepared, and each organic EL element is permitted to have a pixel electrode disposed on the substrate, an organic layer disposed on the pixel electrode, a transparent counter electrode disposed on the organic layer, a sealing layer disposed on the transparent counter electrode, and a color filter disposed on the sealing layer; a step of detecting a defective portion on the organic layer in the organic EL element; and a step of breaking the transparent counter electrode in a region on the defective portion of the transparent counter electrode by irradiating the region on the defective portion with a laser beam. The laser beam is radiated by being tilted with respect to the normal line on the display surface of the organic EL panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Miyazawa, Akihisa Nakahashi
  • Patent number: 8283918
    Abstract: A detection apparatus for an eddy current in a heat generating tube using a permeability measurement method, and a method using the apparatus are provided. In the detection apparatus, a bobbin type probe acquires detection information with respect to a magnetic flux change by a magnetic phase occurring in the heat generating tube using a coil which is wound in an axis direction of at least one yoke located in a perpendicular direction with a bobbin of the bobbin type probe, and a material having a corresponding magnetic phase and a circumferential defect, which is difficult to be detected by the bobbin type probe, are detected based on the detection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventors: Duck-Gun Park, Derac Son, Kwon-Sang Ryu, Dae-hyuk Jyung, Whung-whoe Kim
  • Patent number: 8282716
    Abstract: A jacket material into which a gas adsorbing device and core material are inserted is decompressed in a vacuum chamber, the opening is sealed, and then the jacket material is exposed to the atmosphere. In the atmospheric pressure, a pressure of about 1 atm which is equivalent to the pressure difference between the inside and outside is applied to the jacket material of the heat insulator. The jacket material is made of a plastic laminated film and is deformed by pressure. A protruding portion is plunged into a container to drill through holes, and a gas adsorbent in the container communicates with the inside of the jacket material. Thus, both during holding and in applying to the vacuum heat insulator, the gas adsorbent can be applied to the vacuum heat insulator without degradation, and the high degree of vacuum can be kept for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Hashida, Kazutaka Uekado, Akiko Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8280543
    Abstract: Arrangement (1) for processing electronic components, including a plurality of processing stations (3) for processing electronic component, at least some processing stations including an electrical actuator (8); a conveyor (2), such as a turret, for transporting components from one processing station to the next; and a central processing unit (5) for commanding the processing stations. At least some processing stations (3) include a local processing unit (7) for generating command signals (74) for the electric actuators (8). The central processing unit (5) is connected to the local processing units (7) over an electronic bus (6). Digital command instructions (75) are transferred on the electronic bus (6) between the central processing unit (5) and the local processing units (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Ismeca Semiconductor Holdings SA
    Inventors: Gérard Grau, Raphaël Eigeldinger
  • Patent number: 8279529
    Abstract: A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit and further that can compensate an image blur caused by vibration applied to the entire system. The zoom lens system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of lens units and an aperture diaphragm arranged in the lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoichi Miyazaki, Katsu Yamada, Takuya Imaoka, Masaki Sampei
  • Patent number: 8279973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a space-time coding method for a MIMO-UWB system with P antennas using information symbols belonging to an M-PPM, where M is a multiple of P. The modulation alphabet is partitioned into P sub-alphabets corresponding to successive ranges of modulation positions. An extension of the initial alphabet is obtained by forcing the information symbols to belong to some sub-alphabets, thereby increasing the binary rate of said system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Chadi Abou Rjeily
  • Patent number: 8281168
    Abstract: A data processor includes: a data input unit that inputs data in real time; an input data storing unit in which the inputted data is stored; a signal processing unit that reads out the stored data and performs signal processing of the stored data; a signal processing control unit that has the signal processing unit intermittently perform the signal processing faster than real-time; a clock/power source control unit that reduces power consumption by restricting a clock signal and/or electric power to the signal processing unit and the signal processing control unit in an inactive period of the intermittent operation; and an input monitor unit that monitors the volume of stored data, requests the clock/power source control unit to remove a clock or power restriction based on the volume, and requests the signal processing control unit to move into an active period of the intermittent operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Nishida
  • Patent number: D668019
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Pastificio Rana S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gian Luca Rana
  • Patent number: D668052
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Tablecraft Products Company
    Inventor: Charles P. Maxwell